Gibson returns to Orioles; Suárez allows 8 runs in 9-1 loss to Tigers; Bautista struggles

SARASOTA–What’s happening? Kyle Gibson, a 37-year-old right-hander who led the Orioles with 15 wins in 2023, signed a one-year contract with Baltimore after pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals last season. The one-year deal is for $5.25 million with $1.525 million in performance bonuses, according to The Athletic.

Manager Brandon Hyde said that Gibson will have to begin spring training and won’t be available to pitch for some time.

To make room for Gibson on the 40-man roster, the Orioles placed right-hander Kyle Bradish on the 60-day injured list. Bradish had Tommy John surgery last June.

Bradish, Tyler Wells, who also had right elbow surgery last June, Grayson Rodriguez (right elbow discomfort), Chayce McDermott (strained right lat/teres) and Trevor Rogers (dislocated knee) are potential starters who won’t be back any time soon, leading to Gibson’s signing.

Zach Eflin, the Orioles’ Opening Day starter, will make his final start of the spring against the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. Eflin has a 7.27 ERA in three starts. In 8 2/3 innings, he’s allowed nine runs, seven earned, on 13 hits, five strikeouts and four walks.

He’ll be opposed by last season’s National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes, who’ll be starting against the Orioles for the third time this spring. Skenes, who has a 3.07 ERA, has struck out 19 batters and allowed 17 hits in 14 2/3 innings.

The game will be shown on MASN with Ben Wagner and Dave Johnson. Geoff Arnold and Brett Hollander have the call on WBAL/98 Rock.

On Sunday, the Orioles play their final Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves at Cool Today Park in North Port, Florida at 1:05 p.m. Charlie Morton will face Spencer Strider.

The game will be shown on MLB Network.

On Monday, the Orioles will play the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, the first game in a five-year preseason arrangement.

Hyde likes the idea of his team playing a final exhibition game in a major league stadium before the season starts next Thursday in Toronto. Pitching coach Drew French is scheduling relievers for the final three games so that they’ll get sufficient work and two days’ rest before Opening Day.

“I’m going to treat it almost like a spring training game,” Hyde said. “Guys won’t play the entire game. We’ll have at least nine extra position players that will play in that game as well.”

Shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who hasn’t played since February 27^th because of a strained right intercostal muscle, will take live batting practice on Saturday. Rodriguez, who’ll start the season on the injured list, played catch for the third time.

Infielder Emmanuel Rivera remains out with a shoulder injury. McDermott, will throw a light side session on Saturday, and Rogers is playing catch but won’t pitch in the near future, according to Hyde.

What’s happened? Entering Friday night’s game, left-hander Cade Povich and right-hander Albert Suárez were in a tight contest for the fifth starter’s spot. After Suárez allowed eight runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings to a Detroit Tigers’ split-squad, Povich should be the favorite.

Suárez has an ERA of 7.89 with 19 runs allowed in 21 2/3 innings. Povich, who threw five hitless innings against Toronto on Tuesday night, has a 3.07 ERA.

“Overall, it feels good,” Suárez said. “I feel like I’m ready for the season. My body feels good. My body’s in good shape. Overall, it was a good spring training for me, especially learning a new pitch.”

Suárez is trying to master a slurve, a hybrid, slider and curveball.

“I think the goal to go as long as I can, so I can be able to go five innings,” he said. “We always look at results, but during spring training, it’s more like how can [make] an adjustment to be ready for the season?”

In the Orioles’ 9-1 loss to Detroit before a sellout crowd of 7,505 at Ed Smith Stadium, Josue Briceño, last year’s Arizona Fall League’s Most Valuable Player, homered in the second, and Ryan Kreidler’s two-run home run keyed a five-run fourth inning.

“I thought Albert was good in the first,” Hyde said. “I thought he had a tough time. He really threw his offspeed stuff in hitter’s counts well … I thought they were aggressive and took good swings on him on balls in the strike zone. He had a tough time after the second inning for a couple of innings, getting guys off the barrel, but he’s had a heck of a camp and a little minor blip in his camp.”

Tarik Skubal, who was the unanimous winner of the Cy Young Award in 2024, did not pitch against the Orioles last season. He threw four one-hit innings, retiring the first nine batters before Jordan Westburg singled to start the fourth.

Skubal, who led the American League in wins, strikeouts and ERA, struck out seven of his first nine batters, and allowed a home run to Gary Sánchez to lead off the fifth. In six innings, Skubal allowed a run on three hits, struck out nine without walking a batter.

Félix Bautista struck out Kreidler before Zach McKinstry homered on an 0-2 pitch. Bautista walked Trey Sweeney, struck out Jake Rogers and walked Kerry Carpenter before he was removed after 26 pitches.

“I thought he was OK,” Hyde said. “He got tired there towards the end. I thought he threw some good splits. I didn’t think his command was best tonight. Tough time getting his fastball by guys. This is spring training for him. When the season starts and there’s 40,000 people there, I think the adrenaline will kick in a little bit.”

Bautista was pleased with his performance. “Good, excellent. I felt good. My arm feels really good,” Bautista said through a team translator. “Right now, the most important thing is feeling healthy, making sure I feel good out there.”

Bautista, who was throwing 95-97 mph, will pitch again on Sunday against Atlanta and thinks he’s ready for Opening Day.

“Yes, I keep working with that goal in mind,” Bautista said. “I have one outing left before Opening Day, and that still remains the goal. My arm feels really good right now, and I do think that with time and as you get into real games, that velocity will start to back up a little bit.”

Hyde has said the Orioles will wait until the end of camp before they make a decision.

“What can I say? I’m an employee here and they’re the ones who can make that decision,” Bautista said. “Whatever decision they make, I’ll take it in stride.”

Minor league right-hander Logan Rinehart suffered an arm injury in the ninth and left the game.

The Orioles drew 100,156 this spring.

What’s up with? Yennier Cano has allowed a run on three hits in five innings this spring with a 1.80 ERA. He’s struck out two and walked two.

“I’m happy with the work that was put in in the offseason,” Cano said through a team translator. “I think we’re seeing a lot of it pay off in the spring. I’m pretty happy with it.”

Cano has been experimenting with a cut fastball that he’s using against left-handed hitters.

“I think it’s a pitch that will help me defend myself from the inner half,” Cano said. “Because my sinker and changeup move away. I don’t really throw my slider too much against lefties, give them a different look.”

Bautista won’t be pitching on consecutive days or for more than an inning in the first half of the season, and perhaps Cano will get some opportunities to close.

“I’m ready for it. I think a lot of us are ready to take that on if Félix is not ready or available,” Cano said. “I think it’s a good group of guys, and there’s a lot of confidence back there that we can all get the job done.”

What’s what? It’s hard to evaluate relievers in spring training because in late innings, they’re often facing minor leaguers and can’t replicate the adrenaline.

“Usually guys tick up, especially back-end relievers, as their moment gets a little bigger. It’s hard to seem like a major league moment at the end of a game or a big spot,” Hyde said. “You would hope that guy’s stuff ticks up in those moments.”

What’s the word? “There’s a lot of excitement, for sure. He’s going to be a huge help for our team. There’s nothing like seeing him go out there in the ninth and striking out two or three guys and seeing the fans’ reactions to him doing that, so it’s a beautiful thing to see.”-Cano on the return of Bautista.

What’s the number? 7.71. Bautista’s ERA after five Grapefruit League appearances.

What’s the record? 12-14-1. The Orioles will play the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida on Saturday at 1:05 p.m.